Haiti, once again, is plunging into absolute chaos.
Two years ago, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated. Now, notorious gang overlord Barbecue’s attempt to wrestle control of the capital Port-au-Prince (PAP) has only plunged the country into deeper chaos.
Since Barbecue’s upheaval, Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who came into power after Moïse’s death, has fled to Kenya and stepped down, leaving Haiti leaderless. The rest of the government has in turn begged the world to send troops to help fight the gangs. Only Kenya has acted, providing a sizable force of policemen to try and control PAP.
While Europe and the US have committed millions in aid, US President Joe Biden has refused Haiti’s plea for US troops on the ground in the capital. I believe this decision is misguided.
The Monroe Doctrine
To understand why I think the US should to provide military support to the Haitian government, you have to understand a US foreign relations standard that is almost as old as our nation: the Monroe Doctrine.
James Monroe established his namesake doctrine in reaction to European meddling in Western Hemisphere affairs. Monroe wanted to establish to European powers that the New World was to be the jurisdiction of the United States.
The US has consistently shown commitment to this doctrine. It’s spent much of its history ousting European empires from the Western Hemisphere and meddling with the governments of many Central and South American nations.
It’s About Building Trust
Does a nation need US attention just because it is in disarray or a failed state? Not necessarily. However, a nation like Haiti is different. It has been struggling mightily for its entire history with little help from close neighbors. As a result, Haiti might start to lose faith in its powerful neighbors and start welcoming help from more nefarious partners.
Specifically, China is famous for its “strings attached” aid and has been looking for a way around the Monroe Doctrine. But why would China be willing to support Haiti? For one, it gives China a foothold in the United States’ backyard. Russia already tried this with the Wagner Group in Haiti. However, the war in Ukraine and Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed coup made this attempt a failure.
Conversely, China has no current conflict and no ambitious mercenary leaders, so sending forces to PAP to fight gangs wouldn’t have to overcome issues stemming from domestic politics.
Additionally, one of China’s largest military weaknesses is that no one in its current military has any combat experience. China could send forces and leaders to Haiti and treat fighting gangs like a military campaign. This would provide its military with fighting experience, but also familiarity with island invasions and urban warfare.
Helping Haiti Could Pay Dividends at Home
On the domestic side, another reason for a US military intervention in Haiti is to help curb our immigration problem.
Every year, US law enforcement agents identify between 50,000 and 75,000 Haitian immigrants at the US-Mexico border. If the United States is serious about solving its current border crisis, then sending military support to help stabilize Haiti will reduce the number of Haitians attempting to enter the US. Additionally, preventing Barbecue from expanding his control would also prevent likely mass emigration events from Haiti to the US.
While there is risk to the lives of US troops, it is in the best interest of the United States to stabilize Haiti. Letting a nation so close to the US mainland fail and succumb to gangland chaos can and probably will lead to greater foreign relations and domestic issues in the United States.
While the task of urban guerilla warfare seems daunting, it is hard to imagine the loose alliance of gangs in Haiti would hold fast against the might of the US military. If all goes well, it might be Haiti’s best chance to set themselves straight on a course for success.